Tribunal (CCT).
Onnoghen is being arraigned for a six-count charge bordering on false
declaration of assets.
TheCable had reported that there were moves to remove Onnoghen from office
before the general election.
On several occasions, he had failed to appear before the tribunal. His
lawyers had challenged the jurisdiction of the tribunal to entertain the
matter.
The appeal court also refused to stay proceedings at the CCT.
At the tribunal on Friday, Danladi Umar, CCT chairman, set aside the order
for the arrest of Onnoghen before he took his plea.
Umar said the warrant of arrest has been set aside because Onnoghen
appeared at the tribunal.
“He must henceforth make himself available throughout the proceedings,”
the CCT chairman said.
After the plea was read, Uche Chris, counsel to the suspended CJN, applied
for bail.
The counsel to the federal government did not oppose the application.
Onnoghen was then granted bail based on self-recognition.
Uche told the court that he will be voting at his constituency outside
Abuja, praying the court for an adjournment till after the elections to
enable him to travel for purposes of voting.
There was a lot of drama before the 11 March 2019 date was given as both
counsel had discussed and agreed on either March 11 or 18, 2019, but the
tribunal chairman insisted on hearing the matter next week.
It took a lot of plea from both counsels before the charge was adjourned
to 11 March 2019.
Umar adjourned the matter till February 21 to hear all pending
applications before the tribunal.